Bobbin insert



J. D. FENN BOBBIN INSERT Jan. 24, 1967 Filed Dec. 10, 1964 INVENTOR. JOED. FENN AGENT 3,300,153 BOBBIN INSERT Joe D. Fenn, Atlanta, Ga.,assignor to Monsanto Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 10,1964, Ser. No. 417,271

4 Claims. (Cl. 242-4621) This invention relates to an adapter forclutching a yarn holder on a spindle of a clutch device and, moreparticularly, relates to a plastic bobbin insert positionable within thebore of a bobbin.

In textile practice, bobbins are customarily locked on clutch devices byexpandable screw or blade means attached to the upper end of a bobbinspindle and expanded against the inner wall of the bobbin. To mount abobbin on a conventional spindle of the above type, it is necessary toaxially align the bobbin above the spindle before lowering the bobbinover the spindle. Following this procedure the space above the spindlemust be free of machinery and other equipment. This is a disadvantagewhere space is a critical consideration. In the use of bobbins of papermanufacture, conventional bobbin clutch devices also have a tendency todamage the inside of the bobbins or tubes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a bobbin insert adapted topermit angular mounting and removal of a bobbin from a spindle and topermit the space above the spindle to be utilized.

Another object is to provide a light, sturdy and resilient plasticbobbin insert.

Another object is to provide an integral, symmetrical and balancedbobbin insert imparting rotational stability and positive connectionbetween bobbin and spindle.

Another object is to provide a bobbin-to-spindle insert particularlyadapted for paper bobbins.

Accordingly, the bobbin insert embodying the invention comprises anintegral, symmetrical, plastic spool having a central sleeve portion andoppositely disposed coaxial conical portions. The conical portions slopeoutwardly from the sleeve portion and are segmented and resilient. Whenthe insert is positioned within a bobbin or tubular member of smallerbore size to be clutched, the slotted segments expand against and gripthe bore of the tubular member.

The insert can be positioned at any desired point along the bore of abobbin, may be disposable, is easily aligned when being mounted, andpermits angular alignment and removal from a chuck spindle.

A better understanding of the novel bobbin insert will be gained byreference to the more detailed description which follows, and to thedrawing. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the bobbin insert embodying theinvention; and

FIGURE 2 is an elevation view, partly in section, showing the insertbeing used in association with a bobbin and spindle, and furtherillustrating angular removal of the bobbin to pass aside of anobstruction.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, bobbin insert 1 has a central sleeveportion 2 with a bore 3 extending therethrough sized to mount tightlyupon a spindle 4. Flaring outwardly from each end of the sleeve portion2 are oppositely disposed conical portions 5 each arranged coaxial withthe sleeve portion 2. Each conical portion 5 has a plurality ofequidistant slots 6 arranged around the bases thereof providing aplurality of slotted resilient and springy segments 7. Banding the baseof each cone 5 on the outer peripheral surface thereof, is a bobbingripping surface 8 which is complementary to the inner bore wall of abobbin 9.

The insert 1 is, preferably, unitary and constructed of light material.A superior insert is manufactured by United States Patent 0 3,300,153Patented Jan. 24, 1967 'ice using a resilient thermoplastic materialsuch as nylon, polyurethane, polyester, and the like. It is criticalthat the construction be symmetrical to provide balance and rotationalstability.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the insert I mounted in a bobbin 9. Bobbin 9 isshown being mounted at an angle to circumvent a pair of textile rolls 10positioned above the spindle 4 of a clutch device 11. The tapered innersurfaces of the conical portions 5 guide the end of spindle 4 into bore3 of the central sleeve portion 2 for readily centering the bobbin. Thegripping surfaces 8 of the resilient segmented portions 7 press againstand grip the bore of bobbin 9 at spaced multiple points to effect apositive grip and to provide concentricity of rotating components duringoperation.

The plastic bobbin insert 1 is particularly adapted for use with papertubes or bobbins because the plastic does not scar the tubes.

It will be understood that modifications and variations from theillustrated embodiment shown are contemplated within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bobbin-to-spindle adaptor comprising,

a central portion having a bore defined therethrough for mounting saidinsert in tight relation on a spindle, oppositely disposed coaxial,resilient end portions joined to respective ends of said centralportion,

each of said end portions having conical inner guide surfaces joiningwith said defined bore and sloping outwardly therefrom,

a plurality of slot means extending inwardly from the outer edges ofeach of said end portions providing springy segments, and

a bobbin contacting surface formed around the outer edge of each of saidend portions for engaging with and gripping the inner wall of a bobbin.

2. A bobbin-to-spindle adaptor as in claim 1, of unitary, symmetricaland plastic material construction.

3. A bobbin-to-spindle adaptor as in claim 1, wherein said plurality ofslot means in a respective end portion are equidistantly spaced.

4. A bobbin-to-spindle adaptor comprising,

a sleeve portion defining a bore,

oppositely disposed hollow, conical portions each coaxially arrangedwith respective ends of said sleeve portion and each having a conicalinner wall with the slope thereof increasing away from said sleeveportion,

a plurality of equispaced slots extending inwardly toward said sleeveportion from the ends of each of said conical portions formingresilient, springy segments,

a peripheral surface formed around the base of each of said conicalportions for gripping a bobbin bore wall,

said adaptor being unitary, symmetrical, resilient, and

of plastic material construction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 180,145 7/1876Mayor 24246.21 2,879,010 3/1959 Crawford 2421l8.32 3,132,817 5/1964Atwood et al 242-4621 FOREIGN PATENTS 307,920 12/ 1929 Great Britain.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner.

1. A BOBBIN-TO-SPINDLE ADAPTOR COMPRISING, A CENTRAL PORTION HAVING A BORE DEFINED THERETHROUGH FOR MOUNTING SAID INSERT IN TIGHT RELATION ON A SPINDLE, OPPOSITELY DISPOSED COAXIAL, RESILIENT END PORTIONS JOINED TO RESPECTIVE ENDS OF SAID CENTRAL PORTION, EACH OF SAID END PORTIONS HAVING CONICAL INNER GUIDE SURFACES JOINING WITH SAID DEFINED BORE AND SLOPING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, A PLURALITY OF SLOT MEANS EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THE OUTER EDGES OF EACH OF SAID END PORTIONS PROVIDING SPRINGY SEGMENTS, AND A BOBBIN CONTACTING SURFACE FORMED AROUND THE OUTER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID END PORTIONS FOR ENGAGING WITH AND GRIPPING THE INNER WALL OF A BOBBIN. 